Tawi-Tawi gov’s daughter named to ARMM’s RLA post

COTABATO CITY — A 33-year-old daughter of Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali was named minority floor leader of the 24-seat Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during its first session here the other day.

The RLA, dubbed as the ARMM’s "little Congress," is composed of three representatives from each of the region’s eight congressional districts.

Rejie Sahali, a nurse by profession, was elected unanimously by her 23 fellow legislators as minority floor leader, one of the three most sensitive positions in the assembly.

Sahali assumed the post just more than a week after ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan appointed her older sister, Ruby, the eldest of the Sahali siblings, as the regional social welfare secretary.

The chairman of the mainstream Moro National Liberation Front, Hatimil Hassan, re-elected assemblyman of Basilan, retained his post as Speaker, the second highest elective position in the regional government.

Hassan belongs to the MNLF’s executive council, composed of former rebel leaders who ousted former ARMM Gov. Nur Misuari as the front’s founding chairman in April 2000 due to loss of confidence in his leadership.

Sahali was mayor of Panglima Sugala, an island town in Tawi-Tawi, for three consecutive terms prior to her election as assemblywoman during the Aug. 8 regional elections.

Members of the 5th RLA, dominated by the Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), said the installation of Hassan and Sahali as Speaker and minority floor leader, respectively, was aimed at complementing the advocacy of the Ampatuan administration for "equitable power-sharing" among all regional leaders.

The RLA’s new majority floor leader, Datu Pike Mentang, hails from the second district of Maguindanao.

The 38-year-old Ampatuan surprised the region’s political quarters last week when he appointed young Moro professionals to sensitive positions in his Cabinet and declared the coffers of their respective offices "open to inspection anytime" by the regional Ombudsman to ensure transparency in their handling of local and foreign grants.